5 Supplements You Shouldn't Be Taking If You Have Diabetes, According to a Dietitian

From eatingwell.com

Can supplements help with diabetes? Learn about five supplements you should consider avoiding if you have diabetes 

KEY POINTS 

• Lifestyle factors and sometimes medications are essential for healthy diabetes management.
• Avoid supplementing chromium, bitter melon, green tea extract, St. John's wort and vitamin E.
• Support healthy blood sugar with diet, physical activity, stress management and healthy sleep.

When it comes to diabetes, lifestyle plays a major role in blood sugar management and overall health. What you eat, how you move your body, your sleeping patterns and your stress levels are all factors that can impact blood sugar. Even if you are taking medications to manage your diabetes, they are to be used in conjunction with lifestyle strategies that include a nutritious eating plan, physical activity, managing stressors and getting healthy sleep. But what about supplements? Are they safe and effective?

Supplements are meant to fill nutrient gaps when you are unable to meet your needs through food alone or if you have a deficiency. Because supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, it's important to take them cautiously. Always look for independently verified certification to ensure what they say is in it actually is, and never begin supplementation without supervision from a medical professional. Supplements can be costly and, if not taken carefully, may do harm, especially if you are taking certain medications or have other health conditions.

There are different types of diabetes and different treatment options for each type, so it's difficult to generalize which supplements all people with diabetes should not take. That's one of the reasons discussing your desires and questions with a knowledgeable medical professional is so important.

With that in mind, here are five supplements you may want to reconsider if you have diabetes, as they may interfere with certain medications, disrupt blood sugar levels or cause unwanted side effects.

1. Chromium

Chromium is a mineral found in a number of foods, such as meat, vegetables, grains, fruits and nuts. A deficiency in chromium may cause high blood sugar; however, deficiency is very rare. If you have diabetes and take insulin or other oral medications aimed to reduce blood sugar, taking chromium may increase the risk of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar).

Anyone with kidney disease, which is a common complication of type 2 diabetes, should not take chromium because supplementation can worsen kidney disease. Chromium supplementation may also interfere with levothyroxine, a medication commonly used to treat hypothyroidism.

2. Bitter Melon

Bitter melon is an herbal supplement that has been studied for its use in reducing blood sugars in people with diabetes. Its components—charantin, vicine and polypeptide-p—are thought to have a similar structure to insulin, the hormone involved in blood sugar control.

Research on bitter melon supplementation is inconsistent. The studies that have been done are short, most are done on animals and the doses of bitter melon used vary. More research is needed to determine long-term effects and safety. In addition, bitter melon may increase your risk of low blood sugar.

3. Green Tea Extract

Drinking green tea has been shown to provide benefits for people with diabetes. However, there is little research on the effectiveness of a green tea supplement outside of studies conducted on animals, and most studies have been very short in duration. Therefore, additional supplementation beyond drinking green tea is probably not necessary. In addition, emerging research suggests that green tea supplements may have significant interactions with certain medications, reducing their effectiveness.

4. St John's Wort

More research is needed on the use of St. John's wort for diabetes, due to its potential effects on diabetes medications, insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion. One small study evaluated the use of St. John's wort and metformin in 20 healthy male subjects, and found that taking the two in conjunction can increase insulin secretion and lower blood sugar after a glucose tolerance test; however, the supplement decreased the clearance of metformin from the body. One review cautions against the use of St. John's wort for treatment of diabetes because of the potential of interference with drug metabolism.

Most studies on St. John's wort and diabetes have conflicting results, do not include diverse populations, used animal subjects or did not have a long enough duration to examine the long-term effects. Therefore, more studies are needed to explore the drug interactions and insulin secretion effects of St. John's wort.

5. Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that can combat oxidative stress, a precursor and contributor to type 2 diabetes. Adequate dietary intake of vitamin E has been shown to protect against type 2 diabetes by helping reduce insulin resistance. However, high levels—such as those found in supplements—have not been shown to be useful. Also, vitamin E can interact with blood thinners and increase the risk for bleeding by blocking the clotting effects of vitamin K. Therefore, unsupervised supplementation is not recommended if you have diabetes and are taking blood thinners.

Tips for Healthy Eating If You Have Diabetes

Before spending lots of money on supplements that may not work or can cause harm, focus on making simple yet sustainable dietary changes. Here are a few to start with:

• Focus on whole foods: Whole foods contain a variety of macronutrients, vitamins and minerals. Aim to increase your intake of plants—fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds—that are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and healthy fats. Dairy, eggs, meats and seafood also provide essential nutrients, protein, and fat, which help stabilize blood sugar.
• Eat more fibre: Fibre is an indigestible part of carbohydrates that can help to reduce blood sugar spikes because it is metabolized slowly. Some simple ways to eat more fibre is to ingest one fruit or vegetable at each meal, make at least half of your grains whole grains and add one serving of unsalted nuts each day. The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends consuming 25 to 38 grams of fibre daily. If you are not accustomed to eating fibrous foods, increase your intake slowly and drink ample amounts of fluids to reduce the risk of stomach discomfort, including gas and bloating.
• Pair your foods: When eating carbohydrates (grains, potatoes, beans, corn), pair them with non-starchy vegetables, lean protein and healthy fats. This food combination will not only provide satiating power, but also help provide steady energy and stable blood sugar. A simple yet effective strategy is to use the plate method: Fill half of your plate with non-starchy vegetables, one quarter with lean protein and the remaining quarter with a complex carbohydrate. For example, roasted chicken with stir-fried broccoli and baked sweet potato is a balanced and filling meal.

Our Expert Take

While supplements can serve a purpose when you need to fill nutrient gaps or when you are deficient, they are not always safe, and we often don't know their long-term effects. Before you spend money on supplements, take a look at your lifestyle. Eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, lean protein and healthy fats can help you manage blood sugar and inflammation, a key factor in diabetes. Engaging in regular physical activity helps your body use the glucose in your food, promoting a healthy blood sugar. It's also important to get plenty of quality sleep and deal with what's stressing you out, as chronic stress has been linked with higher blood sugar levels.

If you have diabetes—or take care of someone who does—and don't know where to start, meet with a registered dietitian or certified diabetes care and education specialist. These medical professionals can answer all your questions about diabetes, including which supplements are safe to take and which ones should be avoided.

https://www.eatingwell.com/supplements-you-should-not-take-if-you-have-diabetes-11893520

What diabetes technology is right for me?

From newsroom.osfhealthcare.org

Key takeaways:

• Insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors have come a long way, making at-home diabetes care easier.
• Your lifestyle, how much insulin you need and how comfortable you are with technology will determine which device is right for you. Include your health care provider and family in the conversation.
• It's important to maintain the devices. Follow your provider's instructions, and don't ignore error messages.

At-home technology for diabetes continues to evolve, giving people more peace of mind that the disease is in check while they enjoy their day. But how do you know you have the right device for your health and lifestyle? Jennifer Adcock, RN, BSN, CDCES, a certified diabetes care and education specialist at OSF HealthCare, has a roadmap. She says there are two main categories:

Insulin pumps: These deliver insulin into your body to mimic the body’s natural production. This helps keep blood sugar at a healthy level. Adcock says it looks like a cell phone clipped to your midsection.

“We have tubeless ones or ones with tubes. You would choose what works best for you,” Adcock says. “Some people are too active to be connected to that tube. So they would choose something like an Omnipod, which is a brand of tubeless insulin pump.”

How much insulin you need daily also plays a role in which device you choose, Adcock says, because some hold more insulin than others.

Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs): It’s a patch on your arm with a filament under the skin. It reads your glucose every few minutes, and the results are transmitted via Bluetooth to a receiver or cellphone. This can let you know in real time if your blood sugar is too high or too low, and you can take quick action to avoid a serious health issue.

“It’s a big improvement,” from the old way of pricking yourself throughout the day, Adcock says. The con, though, is that the device can be expensive if your insurance doesn’t cover it.

Decisions, decisions

Deciding which diabetes device to use should start with a talk with your health care team and loved ones. Beyond that, lifestyle choices might come into play. Do you not want to carry insulin shots with you all the time? A pump might be the way to go. Or conversely, do you struggle with technology and don’t have someone at the ready to help? Maybe a CGM isn’t the choice for you, and you use the old finger-prick method.

“Make sure you’re not afraid to ask questions of your health care providers. That’s what we’re here for: to help,” Adcock says.

Daily maintenance

Regardless of what you choose, it’s important to keep the devices working properly. If, for example, your CGM stops working unbeknownst to you, your blood sugar could spike or drop, and you could wind up in the hospital. So talk to your health care provider about a backup plan if your primary device fails.

“Make sure you’re using your device correctly and as ordered by your physician,” Adcock implores. “These devices will give you messages like ‘It’s time to change your pump site’ or ‘It’s time to change your CGM site.’ Make sure you’re not ignoring and avoiding those.

“A really neat feature of CGMs is that since they use Bluetooth, you can have a support person also connected. They can review your numbers in real time but not be in the same area,” Adcock adds.

https://newsroom.osfhealthcare.org/what-diabetes-technology-is-right-for-me/ 

Why brittle diabetes is hard to control and what can help stabilise blood sugar

From healthshots.com

Brittle diabetes is a severe and unpredictable form of diabetes that makes blood sugar control extremely challenging. Endocrinologist explains its causes, symptoms and modern treatment options

For most people living with diabetes, managing blood sugar is about routine, eating right, taking insulin or medicines on time, and staying active. But for some, blood sugar levels refuse to cooperate despite doing everything by the book. This condition is known as brittle diabetes, or labile diabetes, and it can make everyday life exhausting and unpredictable. Though not an official medical diagnosis, brittle diabetes is a term doctors use to describe diabetes that is extremely difficult to control. It is characterised by sudden and frequent fluctuations between very high and dangerously low blood glucose levels.

Endocrinologist and diabetologist Dr Piyush Lodha tells Health Shots that these fluctuations can significantly affect quality of life, often leading to repeated hospital visits, anxiety and physical fatigue. Understanding why this happens is the first step toward better management.

                           Brittle diabetes causes sudden highs and lows in blood sugar. Image courtesy: Adobe Stock

What is brittle diabetes?

Brittle diabetes refers to diabetes, most commonly type 1, but sometimes type 2, that is unusually unstable. “In brittle diabetes, blood glucose levels fluctuate unpredictably, causing extreme highs and lows despite proper insulin use and lifestyle measures,” explains Dr Lodha. The term was first introduced in 1934 and has since been used to describe cases in which daily life is repeatedly disrupted by hypoglycaemia or hyperglycaemia. 

Brittle diabetes is relatively rare but serious. Research published in Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity (2023) suggests that about 12 out of every 10,000 adults with diabetes experience this condition. While it can affect older adults, studies show it is most commonly seen in younger people aged 15 to 30 years, according to findings in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 

Symptoms to watch out for

The main sign of brittle diabetes is erratic blood sugar. Low blood sugar may cause shaking, sweating, confusion, dizziness, mood changes, or even fainting and seizures in severe cases. High blood sugar, on the other hand, can lead to excessive thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, dry skin, blurry vision and nausea. These symptoms may appear suddenly and without an obvious trigger.

What are the ‘hidden’ triggers of blood sugar swings?

If you are following your plan but your numbers are still haywire, an underlying condition might be to blame:

1. Digestive tissues: Conditions like Gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying) or Celiac disease make nutrient absorption unpredictable, causing insulin and food to mismatch in the bloodstream.
2. Hormonal surges: Stress-related hormones like cortisol and adrenaline can interfere with insulin function, causing rapid, unexpected rises in glucose.
3. Psychological stress: Severe anxiety or depression can physically alter how your body processes sugar, making mental health support a critical part of treatment.

Treatment and management options

While brittle diabetes is challenging, modern medical advances are helping patients find stability:

1. Continuous glucose monitors (CGM): These devices provide real-time data, helping to catch a swing before it becomes an emergency.
2. Insulin pumps: These allow for more precise, minute-by-minute insulin delivery compared to traditional injections.
3. Pancreas transplants: In severe, life-threatening cases, a transplant may be considered. Research in diabetes care reports high success rates in stabilising blood glucose levels with this procedure.

In addition, a consistent diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and legumes, combined with regular physical activity, can support better glycaemic control.

https://www.healthshots.com/preventive-care/self-care/brittle-diabetes-cause-unstable-blood-sugar/

The 3 Best High-Protein Carbs to Eat for Lower Blood Sugar, According to a Dietitian

From eatingwell.com

No, you don't have to cut out carbs for the sake of blood sugar management 

KEY POINTS

• Combining carbs and protein is a winning combo when eating for blood sugar management.
• Beans, yogurt and legume pasta are all carbs that also contain a healthy amount of protein.
• Enjoy these carb-plus-protein foods as snacks, in main dishes, salads and more.

If you are one of the 12% of Americans with diabetes, you know that when it comes to managing diabetes, dietary changes can play a significant role.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National diabetes statistics report.

 You may think you need to eliminate or seriously reduce your carb intake to manage your blood sugars, but this isn't necessarily true.

While closer consideration of carb intake is typically helpful for diabetes management, it doesn't mean you can't still enjoy carbs! Protein can help offset blood sugar spikes, and some carbohydrates are also good protein sources. Learn the best high-protein carbs for blood sugar management and what to look for in a blood-sugar-friendly snack.

Ali Redmond

1. Beans

Next time you're looking for a protein source for a meatless Monday (or any day for that matter), look no further than beans (or their close cousins, other types of legumes). While their carb content may concern some folks with diabetes, their protein and fibre help offset their impact on blood sugars. "Beans have a great amount of protein in them, and bonus, they have fibre too, which also slows down digestion.

Fibre is an indigestible carbohydrate that provides many benefits, such as promoting digestive health, reducing cholesterol levels and stabilising blood sugars. Since it does wonders for your health and blood sugars, consider choosing high-fibre carbs whenever you can. These include vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes. For some, this can feel more satisfying, plus that blood sugar management bonus," says Ashley Munro, M.P.H., RDN, CDCES.

2. Yogurt

Dairy products, specifically milk and yogurt, are another source of carbs and protein. The carb and protein content of yogurt varies based on the type, with traditional yogurt being lower in protein and higher in carbs than strained (Greek-style) yogurt. Either way, the protein and fat content helps prevent rapid blood sugar spikes. Plus, Munro says, "Yogurt can be a fun vehicle to adding nutrients like fruit (for fibre) and nuts. Texture can impact how we enjoy foods, so that creamy-crunchy combo can be a nice experience."

Munro says, "Protein just takes longer for your body to process, so it helps slow down the journey, which can make you feel satisfied or fuller longer." In addition, research, has demonstrated a relationship between gut health and diabetes, so the probiotic boost from yogurt may amplify this food's benefits for those with diabetes.

3. Legume Pasta

With more and more food innovations lining grocery store shelves, there are new fun ways to help manage diabetes through your diet. One of these newer food inventions is legume pasta, made with protein sources like chickpeas, lentils and yellow peas rather than durum wheat. These can have around four times as much protein and half as many carbs as traditional pasta, which can help offset blood sugar spikes.

If you have diabetes, this prevents you from needing to add as much protein from other sources, like meat, when eating pasta. That being said, while you need to moderate your carb intake if you have diabetes, pasta made from grains, like wheat, rice or quinoa, can be part of a diabetes-appropriate diet.

What to Look For in a Blood-Sugar-Friendly Carb

First, it's best to lean into your preferences when picking carbs. If you ignore your cravings for the sake of health, the changes may not be sustainable, and you'll have to sacrifice satisfaction! Munro says, "Carbs should be what a person wants to eat, enjoys and makes sense from a cultural and accessibility perspective."

From there, she recommends integrating blood-sugar-friendly food combos. She says, "This could look like someone who enjoys crackers, making them blood sugar friendly by adding some protein like lunch meat and fat such as nuts," which helps promote satisfaction without spiking blood sugars like carbs alone would.

Our Expert Take

Pairing protein with carbs helps offset blood sugar spikes and promotes satisfaction. Rather than avoiding carbs, it can help to think about what you can add to your meal or snack to promote your health and help you feel good. Since everybody is different, Munro says, "It does take some trial and error to see what works the best for someone, but it can really empower them when they start to feel better!"

So, consider trying new food combinations and getting curious about how they impact your body. When managing diabetes, it's best to work with a health care provider who can provide individualized guidance and recommendations.

https://www.eatingwell.com/the-best-high-protein-carbs-for-lower-blood-sugar-11900862

8 diabetes myths you need to stop believing

From womensweekly.com.au

By Ashleigh Austen

From the impact of sugar to whether or not it’s genetic, an expert sets the record straight 

Diabetes is one of Australia’s most common chronic conditions, yet it remains widely misunderstood.

More often than not, ideas about who gets diabetes, how it develops and what living with it really involves are shaped more by outdated stereotypes than medical fact. That confusion matters: it can delay diagnosis, fuel stigma and make an already demanding condition harder to manage.

Here, we unpack eight of the most persistent myths about diabetes and explain what the evidence actually tells us.

Myth 1: Type 1 diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar

This is one of the most damaging myths of all. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. It is a chronic autoimmune condition that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Without insulin, the body cannot regulate blood glucose levels, making lifelong insulin therapy essential.

“In type 1 diabetes, the immune system mistakenly attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, resulting in the person losing the ability to produce their own insulin. Sugar or ‘junk food’ does not cause this autoimmune process,” explains endocrinologist Dr Ben Nash, who lives with type 1 diabetes.

No amount of sugar intake causes T1D. The condition develops silently over many years, often long before symptoms appear. Blaming food choices not only spreads misinformation but also places unnecessary guilt on people living with the condition.

                                          Eating too much sugar does not lead to being diagnosed with T1D. Image: Canva

Myth 2: Type 1 diabetes only affects children

While T1D is often diagnosed in childhood, it can develop at any age. Each year, around 3,000 Australians – many of them children – are diagnosed with T1D, which is the equivalent of eight people every day. However, adults are also diagnosed, sometimes well into later life.

“Approximately 50 per cent of people with type 1 diabetes are diagnosed in adulthood, yet many still think of it as a childhood condition,” says Dr Nash.

This misconception matters. “Adults with symptoms such as weight loss, thirst, fatigue, or frequent urination are often misdiagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Delayed diagnosis can lead to serious illness, including diabetic ketoacidosis, a diabetes emergency that can be life-threatening.”

Myth 3: Diabetes always runs in families

Family history does play a role, but it is far from the whole story. Approximately 90 per cent of people diagnosed with T1D have no known family history of the condition. That means most diagnoses come as a complete shock.

Dr Nash explains: “There is a genetic component, but 9 out of 10 people with type 1 diabetes have no family history.” While certain genes are associated with increased risk, “having these genes alone is not enough to cause someone to develop type 1 diabetes.”

Instead, “it is thought that an additional environmental trigger, in addition to genetic factors work together to cause type 1 diabetes to develop.”

Myth 4: You can ‘outgrow’ type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is lifelong. Because the body permanently loses its ability to produce insulin, there is currently no cure and no way to outgrow the condition.

“Once the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells, the body cannot regenerate them,” says Dr Nash. “That’s why people with T1D must give themselves insulin every day.”

Management requires daily insulin, careful monitoring of blood glucose levels and constant decision-making, a reality that is often underestimated by those who don’t live with the condition.

Myth 5: Insulin means you’ve failed to manage diabetes properly

This myth is particularly misleading when it comes to T1D. People with type 1 diabetes need insulin to survive, full stop.

“Insulin is essential for people living with type 1 diabetes because their bodies are no longer able to produce it,” says Dr Nash. “In type 1 diabetes, insulin is simply replacing a hormone the body no longer makes.”

Without insulin, blood glucose levels rise dangerously and can quickly lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening complication and a leading cause of hospitalisation for people with T1D.

                                     With the correct treatment plan, those with diabetes can lead healthy lives. Image: Canva

Myth 6: People with diabetes can’t live full, active lives

Living with diabetes is demanding, but with appropriate treatment and support, people with T1D can and do live full, active lives.

“Living well with type 1 diabetes means people can pursue careers, travel, exercise, and spend time with family without limits,” says Dr Nash. “Advances in diabetes technology has made this more possible than ever.”

However, he notes that much of the effort involved goes unseen. “The invisible work includes constant monitoring, planning ahead, carrying supplies and making decisions that most people never think about.”

Myth 7: The symptoms are always obvious

Classic symptoms such as excessive thirst, frequent urination and unexplained weight loss are well known, but they don’t always appear suddenly or clearly.

“These symptoms can develop gradually and be mistaken for stress, viral illness, menopause, or other conditions,” says Dr Nash.

If insulin is not started in time, high blood glucose levels can escalate rapidly into DKA. “Delayed diagnosis can lead to serious illness, such as diabetic ketoacidosis, a medical emergency that results from inadequate insulin levels to meet the needs of the person with diabetes.”

Myth 8: Diabetes isn’t that expensive to manage

The financial burden of type 1 diabetes in Australia is substantial and increasing. Ongoing costs include insulin, glucose monitoring supplies, medical appointments and, for many families, lost income due to reduced work capacity. These costs are lifelong, reflecting the permanent nature of the condition.

https://www.womensweekly.com.au/health/diabetes-myths/